Ice-cream cabinet



Jun`e11,l1929. ,1w/,WCE 1,717,310

' ICE CREAM CABINET FuedMarch 2, 1928 2 shets-sheet l Roy W' Bnzbe June 11, 1929. R, W, BR|CE 1,717,310

ICE CREAM CABINET Filed Maroh 2, 1928 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROY W. BRICE, OF HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA.

ICE-CREAM CABINET.

Application filed March 2, 1928. Serial No. 258,598.

My invention relates to improvements in store iiXtures,-particularly ice-cream cabinets and the like,-and has for its primary object the provision of a combined ice-cream cabinet and counter. p

In its more limited aspects the invention contemplates a removable Super-structure or counter which is capable of being so positioned upon an ice cream cabinet to form therewith a structure of a height equal to the average store counter height,-the said superstructure being positionable to cover either the frontor back row of ice cream cans to provide for clerk service or self-service by the customers,-respectively.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a super-structure hingedly connectable to the top of an ice cream cabinet whereby the same may be swung to a position to expose the cans for removal without necessitating the detachment of the super-structure from the cabinet.

Arnother object of the invention resides in the provision of a counter attachment for ice cream cabinets having a number of indicia carrying portions spaced to conform to the relative location of the ice cream cans in the cabinet-, the said indicia carrying portions being adapted to receive written, printed, or pictorial matter indicating the kind of ice cream in the respective cabinet compartments and also the price thereof.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by means of a novel com bination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed,-referenee being had to the accompanying` drawings which illustrate the now preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is capable of various changes and departures in and from the structure shown and described without a digression from the spirit. and scope of the subject matter claimed.

In the drawings,v

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a combined ice cream cabinet and counter constructed in accordance with my invention and arranged for self-service on the part of the customer;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional lview taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the super-structure tilted forwardly to expose the cans for removal;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View taken from a point in front of the counter and at about the height of the customers eyes,-the same showing` the use of duplicate superstructures upon double row cabinets when the same are not used on the selfservice plan;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and showing the c0nstruction of one of the indicia card receiving frames, showing the slot for receiving the price tag.

F 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts throughoutV-numeral 1 denotes va conventional ice cream cabinet of the electrical type and which includes a double row of ice cream can compartments 2 for receiving the cans 3, and which Vcompartments are provided with the usual closures 4.

The super structure comprises a rectangular casing having front, side andvtop walls 6, 7 and 8, respectively and being open at the back and bottom. The lower portion of the front wall is perpendicular for a short distance and then slants rearwardly toward the top wall 8,--the slanted portion of said front wall 6 being formed with a number of spaced frames 9 adapted to receive a glass panel 10 and a display card 11 rearwardly of the panel.v Each frame 9 has its upper horizontal portion provided with a slot 12 for the insertion of a price tag 13 as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figures 1 an-d 4. the superstructure 9 serves to convert the cabinet into a counten-it being observed that the superstructure or attachment is hinged at its front wall 6 to the top of the cabinet 1 as indicated at 14.

The slanted portion displays the cards 11 in a plane at right angles to the line of vision of the customer to appraise him as to the contents of each of the compartments 2. To adapt the ice cream cabinet for self-service the super-structure 5 is disposed over the rear row of cans 3 the contents of which is preferably the same as corresponding cans rin the front row. When it is desired to remove one of the cans 3 from the rear row of compartments 2 it is only necessary to swing the entire super-structure forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3,-in which it is observed that the perpendicular portion of the front wall G rests upon the front row ot closures 4 so that the glass panels 10 are protected trom contact with the closure knobs or handles et".

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4; it is possible to have a diiterent kind of ice cream in each compartment and at the same time, by virtue of the rearwardly slanting liront walls ot the super-structure 5, to readily indicate through the cards ll the Yflavor of the ice cream in each compartment.

Ils/*hen the super-structure 5 is used tor seit-service on the part of the customer, as in Fig. l, it is still possible tor a clerk behind the counter to dip ice cream out of the corresponding rear cans 3 in the event that the customer prefers to be waited on rather than wait on himself.

The superstructure 5 in addition to providing a counter for the cabinet l also serves to protect. the subjacent row ot cans 3 from dirt and other foreign matter when the lids ot' the cabinet are removed.

From the foregoing description, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction and advantages ot the subject matter will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. hile the invention has been illustrated in connection with ice cream cabinets and will doubtless tind its greatest utility in this iield,-yet it is to be understood that the supercounter structure is capable ot application to other receptacles.

Vfaving thus described my invention what `hinged to said cabinet over said top opening in a manner to swing clear of the space above said opening to afford 'tree access to the saine when filling the cabinet, said casing having an opening at one side atording access to the opening in the cabinet when Y the casing is in place over the cabinet opening.

3. In an ice cream dispensing cabinet having front and rear top openings, the front opening having a handledvclosure, the conibination ot' a hollow counter forming casing pivoted over said rear top opening and swingable to a position clear of the space above the saine to afford iree access to such rear opening, said casing having a narrow upright wall at its front and an inclined wall extending` rearwardly and upwardly from said upright wall whereby when said casing is swung clear of the rear opening the inclined wall will be spaced from the plane of the openings in the cabinet., the closure and its handle so as to prevent injury to said rearwardly extending wall.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature.

ROY WJBRICE. 

